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Conservation Resources 
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[72] 



REPORT ^ 

Of the committee on so much of the Presidenfs Mes- 
sage as relates to Roads atid Canals. 



Made February 7, 1817, 
And committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next. 



The committee to whom was referred, on the 4th 
of December last, so much of the Messao^e of 
the President of the United States as relates to 
roads and canals, 

REPORT IN PART.... 

That upon mature deliberation the facility of 
commercial and personal intercourse throughout 
the whole extent of the United States and its ter- 
ritories, is viewed by the committee as it appears 
to have been viewed by former committees of both 
branches of the national legislature, and by e\erj 
Executive of the government since its formation, as 
an essential Ingredieni In the general economy of 
the nation, as well in relation to the pursuits of 
peace as to those of war, and also to the perpetua- 
tion and integrity of the republican Union. 

That the interior waters of the United States, 
eo-extensive with its territory, furnish the ample 
and the only effectual means of such facility. With- 
out inland navis^ation, an interior commerce in a 
lar2;e portion of the most neressarv articles would 
be not merely inconvenient but whojly impractica- 



l^ ^/ V /-? 



/ 



€ 



2 E 72 ] 

ble between sections remote from each other; those 
which were destitute must remain so, and where 
there was abundance it would be of little value. 
In such a state — of ail the licli bounties of nature 
distributed over our expanded area, varying in 
their nature and uses witli our varied soils, climates, 
and pursuits, a scanty portion only could be ap- 
propriated to the subsistence and comfort of civi- 
lized man. Invaluable then are those interioj wa- 
ters which, even in their natural state, afford a fa- 
cility of transportation of the necessaries of life 
which no other known means could effect; but al- 
though these waters are thus essentially requisite 
and extensively useful in their original state, their 
usefulness would be indefinitely increased by im- 
proving and uniting their channels. 

The great topographical features of our country 
are its great extent of territory and variety of soil, 
climate, and production, which demonstrate the ne- 
cessity on the one hand — and the number, positions, 
and magnitude of its bays, lakes, and rivers which 
happily, on the other hand, demonstrate the prac- 
ticability of an internal navigation throughout all 
its parts. 

So magnificent arid admirably arranged are these 
waters that two great channels are nearly co:3v 
pleted, by nature, the whole way between the ex- 
tremes of the Union — the one passing through its 
center 3,000 miles, the other on its margin 2,000 
miles ; large and numerous rivers communicating 
with each from a common intermediate source, form 
natural canals from the one to the other, interrupt- 
ed only by the main ridge of mountains from which 
they descend in opposite directions, and over which 
artificial roads of the best construction are known 
to be practicable, so as to unite with the opposite 
navigations within distances varying from 50 to 100 



^ miles. Thus the great chain, called the Appala- 
chian Mouniains, which once was considered as an 
impassable barrier and jjartition between the east- 
ern and western interests, may in effect be remov- 
ed ; or rather, it may be made effectually to assist 
that intercourse which it has seemed permanently 
to interrupt. The large and numerous rivers and 
lakes communicating with the great central chan- 
nel on the north and west, together with those al- 
ready noticed, which cut opposite sides of the 
mountains, traverse the whole cont nent — conduct- 
ing all Its waters, as they seem destined in future to 
convey its innumerable productions, into two great 
channels which unite with the navigable waters of 
the Atlantic Ocean at their two extremes, and one 
of them at numerous intermediate points forming 
in the whole more than ten thousand miles of 
inland navigation, the free use of which requires 
only the purchase at a moderate price in labour. 

The importance of this object to the United 
States ab a commi'nity, is so evident that to ascer- 
tain its practicability would seem sufficiently to re- 
commend it to the attention of the national govern- 
ment. The best evidence of practicability is that 
already adduced — the positions and magnitude of 
the interior waters. These are circumstances of 
notorious importance, the evidence of which can- 
not be questioned ; but it may be proper, in cor- 
roboration, also to notice that resulting from an of- 
ficial document of hi^h authority. 

It will be recollected that in April, 1808, an 
elaborate report, prepared in obedience to a reso- 
lution of the Senate of the preceding year, was 
made by the then Secretary of the Treasury, in 
which was embraced all the outlines, together 
with much detail, of a general system of national 
improvement. The sum of twenty millions of dol- 



4 [ 72 J 

lars was deemed sufficent to effect the works nsr 
cessary to confer on the people of everj section 
of the United Stales all the advantages of orood 
roads and canals, of which the country is suscepti- 
ble; that the annual application of two millions of 
dollars would effect this great object in ten years, 
and which (it was added) could be conveniently 
supplied from the existing revenues of the United 
States, leaving a sufficient surplus in addition to 
the sum required for the permanent peace esta- 
blishment and national debt, in the same period of 
ten years; to arm every man in the United States; 
to erect as many fortifications and batteries as could 
be manned ; and, if thought eligible, to build a na- 
vy. The subject was treated in that report as one 
of primary national importance, conducive to the 
general welfare, in enhancing the value of lands ; 
promoting useful commerce; binding the union 
together by a community of interests, and consti- 
tuting an important branch of the public defence. 
This official report of 1808 attracted much atten- 
tion, and the subject matter of it has appeared to 
receive the decided approbation of the citizens of 
the United States ever since. The execution of 
this plan would probably have been commenced 
long before this time had not extraordinary diffi- 
culties in our foreign relations and consequent war 
with Great Britain interfered ; since the termina- 
tion of the war, the necessary attention of the go- 
vernment to other objects, sufficiently accounts for 
the continued suspension of the plan of improve- 
ment recommended at that time. But these causes 
of suspension having now ceased, it may reason- 
ably be expected again to attract a due share of the 
public attention. 

A state of tianquillity has been happily restored 
under circumstances favourinfif its continuation for 



[ 72 ] 5 

many years. The pursuits of peace in the United 
Stales have been resumed with renovated viirour. 
Great pohtical changes in Europe have afle( ted, 
and may continue mati^ially to alFect, our foni^n 
commerce. The experience of* the late war has 
served to develop the importance of internal trans- 
portation ; and the resources of the Lriited States 
are undoubtedly more ample than they were In 
1808. x4t that time the averag^e annual rev» nue 
was about fourteen millions of dollars. At this 
time from various causes it is increased to an ave- 
rage of twenty-five millions. These circumstan- 
ces seem peculiarly to recommend at this tniie 
such a system of general improvement as would 
accelerate the advancement, and secure perma- 
nently the internal commerce, of the United States, 

Two important considerations particularly re- 
commend the subject of internal navigation to the 
early attention of government; the rivalj^hip of a 
foreign state in the trade and commerce of our in- 
terior possessions ; and the lively interest evi- 
denced in various parts of the United States in the 
improvement of our facilities of intercouse. 

That portion of our territory bordering on Lake 
Champlain, the St. Lawrence, and Great Lakes, 
and to which these waters are the outlets, is mv de- 
rately estimated at 60 millions of acres Much of 
this is already pojmlous, and the remai{]»:^er be- 
coming so with surprising rapidity. Until other 
routes shall be greatly improved all the productions 
of this extensive district must be drawn to the 
British ports of Lower Canada, from whence also 
the mfrchandise, the arms, and the infhjence of 
Great Britain, are conveyed with unrivaled celeri- 
ty to the recesses of all the north western Indian 
tribes within our limits. Such an intercourse can 
scarcely fail to engender in those numerous hordes 



t) [ 72 ] 

unfriendly dispositions towards the citizens and 
government of the United Slates in time of peace, 
and in war to array them against us in a force 
formidable in a degree beyond that of their speci- 
fic number and strength. 

The whole commerce of that extensive region, as 
well of the present and future white population as 
the trade of the Indian tribes, can be advantageous- 
ly turned to the ports and possessions of the United 
States only by an improved Inland navigation. 

The soiicitude on the subject of internal im- 
provements, geneially, which is felt in various 
parts of the United States at this time, is indicated 
in a manner not to be mistaken, and promises an 
effective co-operation with the national government 
in any measure which it may approve and adopt 
for promoting ihem 

1 he perseverance of tlie citizens and State of 
New- York, in their etforts to ascertain the most 
eligible route and means for opening a navigable 
canal from the tide water in the Nojth or Hudson 
river to Lake Erie, is a pl(^dge that their wealth 
and enterprise would contribute largely towards 
that object. The local enterprise which has long 
since organized itself in companies, under State 
authorities, formed these plans; and progressed 
considerably in the execution of canals through the 
necks of land, respectively, which alone obstruct 
the inland navigation from Boston to St. Mary's, is 
again directed to these objects. In addion to these 
several works, there is wanting only a short canal 
from Lake Erie to some of the navigable waters 
which empty into the Ohio ; some inconsiderable 
improvements in the bed of such water, and a 
lockage or other improvement at the falls of Louis- 
ville, to complete the two great channels already 
mentioned. In all these works, although the na- 



[ 72 ] 7 

tion has a paramount interest in their completion, 
there are good reasons to believe, that individual 
or local enterprise v^ouid contribute a full hail or 
more of the expense. 

There are eq\ial or still stronger reasons to be- 
lieve that individual and local enterprise would 
with alacrity share, at least with the United States, 
in impioving the navigation of such correspondent 
atlantic and western rivers as are best adapted for 
a connexion by postage roads across the moun- 
tain ; in the construction of such roads, and of such 
other great leading road or roads as shall be 
established or approved by the national govern- 
ment. The great progress already made without 
the aid of this government in the construction and 
extension of permanent roads, as well in Virginia 
and Maryland as in Pennsylvania, Jersey, New- 
York, and all the more eastern States, is conclu- 
sive evidence of a disposition in most or all of the 
States to promote these objects. In the State of 
New- York a great turnpike road has been for 
sometime competed almost to Lake Erie; and in 
Pennsvlvania the Herculean task of extendino- a 
turnpike road, of the best construction, the whole 
w^ay from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, has been 
boldly undertaken, and is in a rapid progress of 
execution ; in both these States a great variety of 
other turnpikes have been long in great perfection, 
and new ones are annually added. The latter 
State has, moreover, a great number of bridges, 
probably among the largest in the world, founded 
in solid masonry; and it has also made provision, 
by law, for the liberal encouragement of a gieat 
work in its neighbouring States of Maryland and 
Delaware. 

The foregoing indications, as well as many other 
considerations, seem fully to aiithorize the confi- 



8 [ 72 J 

dent reliance upon individual exertion for a full half 
or more of tlie resources requisite for the comple- 
tion of every improvement of national importance 
in the Uniled States, which its government shall 
take measures suitably to encourage. 

The whole expense, by the official report of 
1808 already noticed, of a general system of roads 
and inland navigation has been, it appears, carefully 
estimated at 20 miilions of dollars; on the assump- 
tion that one half would be contributed by individual 
and local exertion, 10 millions in addition, applied 
on the part of the United States, would be ai sum 
fully sufficient. These views present another 
consideration of great weight; that is, the magni- 
tude of the object compared with the expense re- 
quired to effect it. The object proposed is the fa- 
cihty of intercourse by means of more than ten 
thousand miles of internal navigation, and more 
than two thousand miles of permanent roads, be- 
sides those already completed in the several States, 
and such temporary roads through the more im- 
proved territories as might serve for travelling 
and for transporting the mails. 

The expense to the United States, taken at 10 
millions of dollars, supposing? miilions applied to 
the canals and 3 millions to the roads, (if an actual 
expenditure,) would be only 700 dollars per mile 
for the canals, and 1500 dollais per mile for the 
2000 miles of permanent roads : but when it is 
considered that these sums may not be, strictly 
speaking, expended, but merely invested by sub- 
scription in canal and road stocks which would ulti- 
mately rise to par value, the contia.-^t between the 
magnitude of the object, and that of the ra[Mtal 
employed, becomes still more strlkin ily obvious. 
Nor will these views of the subjet t a^peai" e^ag- 
gerated if we recur to the extent of the navigation 



[72] 

proposed to be opened, and consider that most of 
it would be well adapted for steam vessels ; and 
that the recent origin, the present state, and pro- 
bable improvement of these cannot, if successful, 
fail to give to all large rivers, bays, and lakes in 
the United State, in an improved state, all the ad- 
vanta^jes ol navii^able canals of the best artificial 
oonstruction. 

In Great Britain more than 100 millions of dol- 
lars have been laid out in constructing about 1000 
miles of canal navigation, (that of rivers being little 
used,) and it is considered of great national ad- 
vantaii:es. How much stronofer are the induce- 
ments m the United States to employ a tenth part 
of that sum in effecting an object of ten times the 
magnitude ? 

The committee might enumerate various other 
considerations in detail, but it is not deemed ne- 
cessary to do so, since they will be comprised in 
the general importance of inland navigation and 
intercourse in the United States, which will now 
be briefly considered. Internal intercourse is de- 
pendent upon internal navigation, in a greater or 
less degree according to the extent of Territory; 
in the United States, therefore it must, as has been 
assumed, depend essentially upon this mean ; con- 
sequently the subject must in the United States 
possess a degree of importance unknown in other 
countiies in a political point of view; and must be 
considered with reference to this principle in con- 
nexion with every other advantajre to be derived 
irom it. 

The general importance of internal navigatioa 
is so unlvei'sally admitted, that any attempts 
further to illustrate it would seem superfluous, 
were it not for the fact, that it is an object here- 
tofore neglected by the United Slates; a oircuMr 

2 



18 [ 72 ] 

stance that can hardly be accounted for on any 
other rational principle, than that its intrinsic im- 
portance has been some how overlooked, or hid- 
den in the mass of other concerns, or its advanta- 
ges been viewed at too remote a distance to induce 
present activity. From these considerations a few 
observations are submitted, in which the chief dif- 
ficulty is that the case seems too clear to admit of 
additional proof short of actual consummation; 
some will always be found who will call every 
thing theory which is not actually aecompished in 
practice and in their own possession ; some twenty 
years aoo, there was not a turnj^ike road in the 
United States — the one between Philadelphia and 
Lancaster was then called a theory — There are 
now in the United Sates some thousand miles of 
such road ; they have becoine famiiiar, and we 
experience little surprise that individuals in a single 
State undertake fearlessly to extend them over the 
greatest mountains on the continent. The build- 
ing of a ship and navigating the ocean has become 
familiar in the same manner — it is no longer a sub- 
ject of wonder. But the time probably has been 
whenthn simplest raft was the only navigating ve- 
hicle — with this man was content, until necessity 
discovered and experience improved the use of in- 
struments. Is it not remarkable that in our present 
advanc*^d state of civilization and science, man is 
still little inclined to profit by his reason and in- 
telligence, but disposed always to wait the man- 
date of necessit} ? 

Why should an improved inland navigation be 
any more a theory than a turnpike road or the 
buildingof a house ? Merely because we are more 
familiar with the latter than with the former. But, 
in Europe, a canal navi^^ation is as familiarly known 
to experience as a ship, a house, or a turnpike; and 



[ 72 ] 11 

we have the means of profiting by all the expe- 
rience of Europe — with the materials aad induce- 
ments which no country of Europe p ssesses — 
they will soon become familiar to us as turnpike 
roads have become, if we can only be prevailed 
upon to attempt them in earnest 

if sea vessels entering: the harbours of Boston 
and New-Yuik respectively, could continue their 
voyages inland, without niterruption — from the for- 
mer to' St. Mary's, in Georgia, from the latter to 
Lake Erie, and thence to New-Orleans, would 
there remain a doubt of the advantages of such 
an inland navi^^ation ? Would there be found in 
the United Stales a single voice to oppose (he pur- 
chase, if they wrre to be obtained for ten or even 
twentj millions? Yet such, and greater advan- 
tages are clearly within our reach for ten millions, 
if that sum can be so applied as to ensure the com- 
pletion of the system of improvement, by roads 
and canals, to which the natuial advantages of 
this country invite our attention. A steam navi* 
gation would be tendered pi acticabic, not only be- 
tween the distant points just m/ ntioncd, but in all 
our bays, lakes, and largest rivers — a navigation 
decidedly superior to that of sea-vessels, in all nar- 
row channels, as may be inferred not only from 
the nature of thines? but fiom the important fact 
that while yet in iis infancy it has, in a great mea- 
sure, snpplantc d the long-established use of sea- 
vessels in most of the bays and large rivers of the 
United States. A detail of the advantages of such 
a navigation to the United States, as a community, 
will not be attempted, because an enumeration 
and estimate of them is im[>racticable A few of 
the most iramedi tte and prominent effects of a 
well-digested system of improvement, calculated 
to ensure them to our country, will be merely no- 



1^^ [ 72 ] 

ticed, leaving every mind to imagine, (for imagina- 
tion can hardly exaggerate,) their multiplicity and 
importance. 

1st No sooner will the national government 
have fairly commenced the system, than a general 
confidence in its completion will he inspired — its 
benefits will be felt In anticipation, in the value of 
lands — in an increased activity — on the general 
prosperity, and consequently in the revenues of 
the United States. These, in an average of ten 
years, will have been increased beyond what tliey 
would have otherwise produced, by an amount 
greater than that of the whole sum which will 
have been expended or employed in the requisite 
works. 

2d. Its operation will tend to perpetuate the 
republic and the Union, by an indissoluble com- 
munity of interests, habits, and attachments — to 
give celerity of movement and consequent efficien- 
cy to the military force, as well as an easy ex- 
change and distribution of the necessaries of life, 
whenever the country may be again visited by the 
calamities of war. 

3d. In times of peace or war, it will give a due 
Yalue to every production of land and labour, 
whether of agriculture, minerals, forests or fishe- 
ries, or mechanic arts — promote, by the certainty 
of reward, every well-directed branch of domestic 
industry — the diffiision of science and of morals— 
the happiness and comfort of the whole communi- 
ty, by the facility of personal and social, as well 
as commercial intercourse. 

4th. It cannot fail to add a new and magnified 
importance to our foreign as well as our domestic 
commerce, in making it accessible to all the pro- 
ductions of the most interior parts of this great 
continent, which productions will continually iq- 



[ 72 ] 1« 

crease with the population and progress of im- 
provement. 

Jth. And finally, it would give a new and more 
elevated character to the nation, to the repubhc — 
in all its domestic concerns, — in all its foiei n re a- 
tions — in the comfort, happiness, and prosperity of 
its citizens — in the permaoence of its tree insutu- 
tions, and in the incalculable amount of its public 
resources. 

The same principles and considerations which 
serve to direct the attention of the committ^^e, in 
relation to internal navio;ation. to such routes as 
are of peculiar national importance, will also point 
out those roads which seem to require most im- 
mediately the attention of the federal government, 
exclusive of portage-roads already noticed. 

The routes which seem exclusively to claim 
public and general attention, are 

1st; From Maine to Louisiana in the general 
direction of the sea-coast and main post-road, and 
passing through all the principal sea-ports. The 
expense of a e^ood road upon this route, may vaiy 
according to the construction adopted. 

2d ; Another object next, if not equal in impor- 
tance would be the improvement, on a less expen- 
sive scale, of certain portions of roads leading to 
the principal naval and military depots and posts, 
and other important points in the interior and upon 
the extremes of the Union : the points contem- 
plated are Sackett's Harbour; Erie, in Pennsyl- 
vania; Detroit, in the Michigan Territory ; St. 
Louis, in the Missouri Territory; and New-Orleans, 
in Louisiana. 

It remains for the committee to recapitulate the 
objects of national importance comprised in t-iis 
report, and to suggest such measures as the gene- 



^44 [ 72 j 

ral object requires, in their opinion, on t'le part of 
the national government. 

The principal improvements requisite to afford 
the advantao-es of internal navigation and inter- 
course througho it the United States and its terri- 
tories are : 

1. Canals through four necks of land from Bos- 
ton harbour to St. Mary's river, making altogether 
98 miles, besides a short cut or improvement 
across Cape f^ear, and, as a more distant object, a 
canal communication, if |)racticable, from the Alta- 
maha, and its waters, to Mobile, and from thence 
to the Mississippi. 

2. A canal from the Hudson or North river to 
Lake Erie ; another from that lake to a navigable 
branch of the Ohio; some improvement in the bed 
of said branch, and, probably, in that of parts of 
the Ohio river; and a lockage or otijer improve- 
ment at the falls of Louisville. 

3. Improvements by lockage or otherwise, as 
the case may require, in each of the principal 
Atlantic and southern livers, and in their respec- 
tively correspondent northern and western waters. 

4. Turnpike or other permanent roads: 

1. Across the mountains or intervening lands, 
where canals are found impracticable or not ad- 
vantageous, between the principal Atlantic and 
southern rivers, and one or moie of theii- respec- 
tive branches at the highest navigable points, and 
the nearest navigable points on the correspondent 
northern and western waters. 2. A great turn- 
pike or permanent road from north to south in 
the general direction of the sea-coast and malti 
post-route : and, 3. Improvements on a less expen- 
sive scale, from some convenient point on the main 
road in York State to the principal military and 
naval posts and stations upon the northern frontier 
of that State; from some convenient point or point? 



[ 72 ] 15 

^n the Ohio, to the principal military and naval 
stations and posts upon the northern frontier 
of Penos}lvania, Oliio, and Michigan Territory ; 
from Detroit to St. Louis, and Irooi thence to 
New-Orleans. 

The measures which appear indispensably re- 
quisite, in the first instance, are: First, a peima- 
nent provision for ascertaining^, with accuracy, the 
particular route, points, and situations for the best 
location of the proposed improvements, by pro- 
curing^ drafts or plots, wi<h exphcit written de- 
icriptions and explanations, from actual surveys 
and levels to be taken under the authority of the 
United States, or otherwise. 

2d. To provide the necessary funds foran annual 
expendi-ture, or application to such improvements, 
to such amount as may be found advantageous. 

With respect to the particular mode in which a 
portion of the national resources migl*. be most 
advantageously applied to such objects, that nmst 
necessarily vary according to the object and ex- 
isting circumstances at the time of expenditure^ 
and may be provided for by law from time to time. 
When any object is purely national and an ex- 
penditure upon it required by the public interest, 
this would constitute a fit subject for the direct 
and exclusive application of money from the na- 
tional funds — Such objects however are believed to 
be very rare ; so interwoven are the common with 
the local interests, that the former can hardjy be 
consulted any where in relation to internal in- 
tercourse without affecting the latter in degrees 
yarvins: accordinor to circumstances. The neces- 
sary existence of this principle seems naturally to 
recommend the comblna ion of those interests in 
the same object under such guards and limitations 
as may effectually secure the public. The most 
eligible means to produce this effect, is believerf 



U [ 72 ] 

to be the establishment of a suitable fund to be 
invested for accumulation until actually required for 
Its object; and the subscription on account of the 
United States, for portions of the stock of compa- 
nies incorporated, or which may be incorporated 
under State authorities, for constructing such 
roads and canals, or for effecting such improve- 
ments in navigable waters, as shall upon inspec- 
tion under the authority of the United States, be 
approved by the Congress, to be paid out of such 
fund. 

This plan is believed preferable to any other 
which has occurred to the committee, in the essen- 
tial points of efficiency and economy, to be less 
liable to any constitutional doubts, objections or 
practical difficulties, and at the same time retaining 
in the national government a sufficient controling 
influence, in the selection of the objects of im- 
provement and over the direction, plan, and C( n- 
struction of the impro\ement proposed, and in fix- 
ing the rates of tolls and charges. 

1st. It would be efficient in exciting, encour- 
aging and calling into activity individual and local 
enterpiize. 

2d. It would ensure economy by securing the vi- 
gilant guarantee of the same individual and local 
interest. 

3d. Less liable to constitutional doubts, objec- 
tions, or practical Jifficiilties, because it would nar- 
row the whole constitutional question to the single 
one on which no doubts are known to exist: sim- 
ply, w^hethcr the national government may invest 
the public money in permanent stocks.^ — and it 
removes all intricacy and cliffi( ulty, on the subject 
of repairs, toll-gates, the collection of tolls, and 
punisliing depredators on the works. 

4th. A sufficient contiolins: influence will be re- 
tained in the condition proposed to be presented 



[12 \ 17 

to the subscription, that the proposed undertaking 
shall first be approved by the Congress. 

It may be further remarked in favour of this 
mode that it excludes every idea of creating in the 
general government any improper influence of pa- 
tronage, which some might apprehend from the 
direct application of a large sum of money. 

The only desirable object which the mode pro- 
posed of subsrription to stock does not seem to em- 
brace, in the fullest extent, is that of an equilization 
of the advantages resulting from the application of 
the national resources to the proposed objects 
among the several States ; at even this desirable 
object it would approximate more nearly th<in 
would a direct application by the national govern- 
ment. 

But if it be deemed necessary and practicable, 
more perfectly to secure this object, a distinct and 
separate fund should be provided for the purpose, 
to be distributed among the States as justice may 
dictate, or according to representation ; leaving 
the former to be employed in the mode proposed : 
forifthe mode of distribution should be exclusively, 
or even chiefly adopted, and the money given over 
to the exclusive control and direction of State au- 
thorities, it is evident that the national interests 
cannot be exclusively or even chiefly consulted ; 
they would be abandoned so far as the subject of 
internal facilities of intercourse extends to the State 
governments — a course which, if the objects in 
question be of national importance, and wliich it is 
believed few or none can doubt, would not be jus- 
tified by the constitution of the United States. 

With the foregjoino; remarks, and reservinc: for 
an additional report such further details as the nm- 
terials which the committee possess, andmay be 



18 



[72] 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



028 106 136 7 



enabled to collect during the r< 

slon, the following resolution is submitted: 

Resolved, That the President of the United 
vStates be requested to take measures for ascer- 
taining, as far as practicable, and report to this 
House at the next and every subsequent session of 
Congress, such roads, canals, and improvements in 
water courses as are required in a general system 
of iiiland navigation and intercourse throughout 
the extent of the United States and the territories 
thereof, best adapted to facihtate the intercourse 
necessary for personal, commercial, and military 
purposes. 



Conservation Resources 
Lig-Free® Type I 
Ph 8.5, Buffered 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



028 106 136 ) 



